Not a ton of favourites this month, so let’s keep it short and sweet.
Benefit – Watts Up
The mini size of BenefitWatts Up was part of Sephora’s 2013 birthday gift. Its’s a hefty sample size yet in iiiitty biiiiitty packaging. Without having tried this, I brought it with me on vacation. And wow did it ever not disappoint! This is essentially the cream version of MAC‘s Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle. It’s easy to blend in (I use my finger) and practically goof proof.
Tarte – Dollface and Park Ave. Princess (from the Off The Cuff palette)
Another vacation favourite! Dollface, despite being a colour I am completely not interested in, is really, really nice on my skin. Park Ave. Princess, one of Tarte‘s bronzers, was equally nice. It does have a slight orangey tint depending on the light. It also has some kind of a sheen to it so apply lightly!
It goes without saying that Tarte‘s products are wonderful. Their blushes do have a bit of a harder texture so I have to use a stiffer brush since a regular blush brush just won’t do the job. Oddly, I don’t find that’s the case with the bronzer so I wonder if they have slightly different ingredients.
Laura Mercier – Plum Smoke, Fresco and Bamboo (from the Artist 2013 palette)
I used Laura Mercier‘s Artist palette (2013 version) exclusively for two weeks straight and I’ve got some new found love for Plum Smoke, Fresco and Bamboo. Bamboo is especially great for a smokey eye look. If you were lucky enough to get your hands on this as it rapidly sold out during the last holiday season then you know how lucky you are. And if you didn’t, I’d be keeping your eyes peeled for the next holiday season!
So that’s it for this month. And here’s a peek at what was actually happening while I was trying to take photos for this post: 😉
More recent makeup looks! A few neutrals mixed in with the bright ones.
I got this idea from Jaclyn Hill (her tutorial). She used some beautiful Makeup Geek shadows and while I had most of them, I had to improvise the lid colour. Her looks came out a lot more pink, whereas mine leans more towards red. I know red shadow isn’t something anyone really gravitates towards, but red and orange are my favourite colours to play with on the eyes – probably because they’re rather unconventional.
Eyes
Makeup GeekPeach Smoothie at the top of crease.
Makeup GeekRazzleberry heavily in the outer corner and through the crease (don’t blend above Peach Smoothie). Lightly line the lower outer corner of your bottom lashline as well.
Taking the SleekSunset palette, mix together the third shade from the left (top row) with the first shade on the right (bottom row) and apply the mixed shadows to your entire lid, blending it into Razzleberry.
MACShroom to highlight the brow, MACBlacktrack fluidline for the winged liner and L’OrealVoluminous Carbon Black on my lashes.
Rest of the Face
Foundation: none
Blush: TarteCharisma
Bronzer: Physicians Formula Happy Booster in Light/Medium
Lips: MACShy Girl
This the look I do when I need to be a bit more dressed up, but have no idea what to wear on my face. There isn’t an outfit in the world that this eyeshadow won’t match!
Eyes
(all Urban Decay) Virgin all over the lid.
Buck in the outer corner and through the crease.
Smog in the very outer corner.
Virgin to highlight the brow, MACBlacktrack fluidline for the winged liner and Too FacedBetter Than Sex mascara on my lashes.
Rest of the Face
Foundation: Yaby in Buff
Brows: Urban DecayNaked (only mentioning this since I usually use MAC Omega)
Concealer: Collection Lasting Perfection in Shade 2 Light
Bronzer: TartePark Avenue Princess
Blush: TarteDarling
Highlighter: Hard CandyTiki
Lips: MACBrick lipliner with MACRussian Red on top
I don’t usually do a cut crease because I honestly don’ really know what I’m doing. This ended up a bit more smoothed out through the crease than it should be, but I really love the colour combination for this one.
Eyes
I first applied NYX‘s Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk all over the lid and smoothed it out. Then:
Applied a mixture of a very yellow-gold from a Sephora palette I own (sorry, no name!) to the inner half of the lid.
InglotAMC Shine #15 on the outer half of the lid.
InglotMatte #325 at the very outer edge then pulled as sharply as you can through the crease.
Makeup GeekCreme Brulee to blend out the very upper edge of the purple shadow.
Too FacedCream Colored Ponies to highlight the brow, Make Up For Ever Aqualiner in 13 Black for the wing and L’OrealVoluminous Carbon Black on my lashes.
Rest of the Face
Foundation: CoverGirl CC Cream in 110 Classic Ivory mixed with Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 51 Light Vanilla
Blush: SleekCrochet
Highlighter: MACWhisper of Gilt
Lips: NYXCherry Cheesecake
This was out of my comfort zone because it required toning down my eye makeup so that I could make the purple mascara pop more.
Eyes
MACBlanc Type all over the lid.
Makeup GeekPeach Smoothie on the outer half of the lid.
Makeup GeekCreme Brulee lightly through the crease.
Blanc Type to highlight the brow and Sephora Full Action Extreme Effect Mascara in Purple on my lashes.
Rest of the Face
Foundation: CoverGirl CC Cream in 110 Classic Ivory mixed with Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 51 Light Vanilla
Bronzer: Physicians Formula Bronze Booster in Light/Medium
Blush: MACGingerly
Highlighter: MACWhisper of Gilt
Lips: Nothing
I used a gold base for this one because the previous time I’d done this look, I didn’t feel like the purple-gold (African Violet) had enough punch to it. I much prefer this with the base because it gives the shade a lot more of the gold dimension that’s already there but slightly hidden.
Eyes
First I applied Maybelline‘s Color Tattoo in Bold Gold all over the lid. Then:
(all Laura Mercier) African Violet all over the lid.
Kir Royal in the outer corner.
Plum Smoke through the crease.
Vanilla Nuts to highlight the brow and L’OrealVoluminous Carbon Black on my lashes.
Rest of the Face
Foundation: CoverGirl CC Cream in 110 Classic Ivory mixed with Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 51 Light Vanilla
Blush: I’m not positive, but it might be TarteExposed
Bronzer: Physicians Formula Bronze Booster in Light/Medium
Highlighter: MACWhisper of Gilt
Lips: Nothing
Thanks for reading. I hope something inspired you. 🙂
Tomorrow morning I’m off on a much needed vacation to visit some friends in the US. I’ll be headed to Baltimore for six days first and then back up to New York City for five.
Nemo’s reaction to being left alone again…
In Baltimore I’ll be visiting a close friend that I’m eager to spend more time with. We’ve signed up for the Charm City Shamrock 5k run on Sunday and I’m excited to look as ridiculous as possible with the green hair extensions I’ve picked up and as much glitter as I can find. There’s a chance I’ll get to visit Washington D.C., but that isn’t set in stone yet.
In New York City I’ll be visiting my old university roommate (and it’s frightening to think that we lived together ten years ago…) and seeing another old friend from my teen years. For shits and giggles, I also signed up for a 10k run on Roosevelt island while I’m there. Until recently, I used to visit New York City every year so I’m anxious to go back!
And not to mention… I am *seriously* excited to pick up all the makeup I can get my hands on for the far cheaper prices that they have in the US!
So let’s take a peak into what I’m bringing on vacation this time.
Once again, the bag I’m taking with me is from MAC‘s Liberty of London collection (2010). I love this bag, and until it frays and falls apart, I’ll be using it!
Palettes – Laura Mercier Artist (2013), customized MAC quad and Tarte Off The Cuff
I’m bringing along Laura Mercier‘s Artist palette (2013) instead of my usual Urban DecayNaked. I’m doing this primarily because my Naked palette gets enough travel mileage and I think the Artist palette has a bit more selection for looks since there’s far more matte shades.
Tarte‘s Off The Cuff palette is an easy one – four blushes and a bronzer without the need for bringing multiple bulky compacts.
The green MAC quad is for St. Patrick’s Day. I’ll definitely want to go all out with green everything so I plopped in a few shades (Juxt, Bio Green, Golden Olive pigment andClub) so I can be as festive as possible!
Lip Products
I kept the lip products fairly simple since re-applying lipstick on vacation is mostly just frustrating to me. One lipstick (Revlon‘s Fire and Ice) and MAC‘s Prep + Prime for lip to prevent feathering should I decide to actually wear the lipstick. The NYX Butter Gloss in Vanilla Cream Pie is for when I want something easy to wear. And finally, I picked up a Nivea lip balm in Milk & Honey specifically for this trip because I didn’t actually own another stick lip balm and I didn’t want to carry around a potted product as they don’t sit easily in my pockets. Lip balms are an absolute must for me when I travel.
MAC Prep + Prime for Lip, Nivea Milk and Honey, Revlon Fire and Ice, NYX Vanilla Cream Pie
It doesn’t look like many lip products really… but I know I won’t wear much else even if I were to bring a few more.
NARS Pro Prime Eye Primer and Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original
Double primers you ask? Yep. I swore by Urban Decay Primer Potion for years, but it recently started creasing on me (much to my horror). I tried the NARS one and it *also* creased on me. If I double up and use them both on my lids then the creasing stops, so… double primers from now on.
Benefit Watts Up and some craft gems
I haven’t used it much, but I packed Benefit‘s Watts Up highlighter simply because it’s a sample size product and fits easily in my bag. The sheen of this highlighter is quite similar to MAC‘s Soft and Gentle.
The craft gems are for the St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock 5k race a friend and I are doing in Baltimore. Although the gems aren’t green, they’re what I had available, and I’ll definitely be plastering my face in them for the run!
yaby foundation in Buff, MAC Blacktrack fluidline, duo lash adhesive and Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara
More tiny products! The yaby foundation in Buff is a good shade for me right now and the tube is tiny so that was an easy one to pop in. I don’t expect to be wearing much foundation, but it’s nice to have in case I decide I want to wear some. Too Faced‘s Better Than Sex mascara is a deluxe sample size and I’m hoping to finish this one up on the trip. I’m slightly worried because it’s not waterproof and the weather forecast looks positively schizophrenic for the next few weeks. :s
The Duo lash adhesive is for the gems (and by looking at that package, it definitely needs replacing). And lastly, my beloved MACBlacktrackfluidline. My liquid liners just weren’t working out the way I wanted them to and even though it’s slightly more work (have to bring an extra brush and all), the end result is far better.
That’s everything I’ve stowed away in my makeup bag for my trip! Blog posts will continue while I’m gone as I have them sitting in queue ready to go live on the usual schedule (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays). Take care everyone. 🙂
I hadn’t used MAC‘s Club in a really long time, and when I do, I tend to use it just in the crease which honestly doesn’t really show off just how awesome the shade is. So I decided to try something different and use it all over the lid.
Eyes: Primed with Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original (this is the day when this primer suddenly stopped working on me and this entire eye look ended up a creased mess by the end of the day!), then:
MACClub all over the entire lid right up and over the crease.
Makeup GeekCreme Brulee at the top of the crease to blend out the edges of Club.
MACBrule was used to highlight the brow with L’OrealVoluminous Carbon Black on my lashes.
Rest of the Face
Foundation: MUA Matte in Shade 1 Soft Sand
Concealer: MAC Select Cover-up in NW20
Bronzer: Physicians Formula Bronze Booster in Light/Medium
Blush: Cargo Medocino
Lips: Revlon Just Bitten Balm + Stain in Twilight
My eye makeup matched my shirt. That’s pretty much the only logic I applied here!
Eyes: NARS Pro Primer eye primer, then:
MACCrystal Avalanche all over the lid.
MACPrint in the outer corner.
Makeup GeekCreme Brulee to blend out the upper crease.
MACBrule to highlight the brow and L’OrealVoluminous Carbon Black on my upper and lower lashes. Make Up For Ever Aqualiner in 13 Black to create the wing.
Rest of the Face
Foundation: Revlon Colorstay (Combination/Oily) in Buff
Bronzer: Revlon Photoready in Bronzed & Chic
Concealer: MAC Select Cover-up in NW20
Blush: MACWarm Soul
Lips: RevlonFire and Ice
Although I tend to think of the Laura MercierArtist 2 palette as predominantly purple, there are a lot of neutral shades in there that need recognition too!
Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden all over the lid, then:
(all Laura Mercier) Sparkling Dew all over the lid.
Bamboo through the crease.
Truffle to darker up the outer corner.
MAC Brule on the browbone, Make Up For Ever Aqualiner in 13 Black for the winged linger and L’OrealVoluminous Carbon Black mascara on my upper lashes.
Rest of the Face
Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in Shade 51 Light Vanilla
Bronzer: Physicians Formula Bronze Booster in Light/Medium
Blush: IllamasquaHussy
Lips: MACRussian Red lipstick with Brick lip pencil
This one showed up decently in pictures, but I can’t say I really liked the end result. The blue shade (Illamasqua‘s Imagine) was sheer, powdery, patchy and just flat out miserable to apply. It needed a insane amount of layers AND it faded throughout the day.
Eyes: NARSPro Prime all over the lids, then:
Urban DecayVirgin on the inner two-thirds of the lid.
Urban DecayGunmetal in sort of an angular stripe at the outer corner.
IllamasquaImagine at the outer corner and blended into the crease.
Urban DecayVirgin to highlight the brow, Make Up Forever Aqua Liner in 13 Black for the wing and Too FacedBetter Than Sex mascara on my upper lashes.
Rest of the Face
Foundation: none
Bronzer: TartePark Ave. Princess
Blush: TarteCrave
Lips: nothing
Super quick one while I was on vacation.
Eyes: NARSPro Prime all over the lid, then:
(all Urban Decay) Sin all over the lid.
Creep in the outer corner.
Virgin to highlight the brow and Too FacedBetter Than Sex mascara on my lashes.
I’m taking an extended vacation over the Family Day long weekend here in Ontario, so I’ll be heading back up to my parents house in Ottawa right after work on Wednesday (same date as this blog post if you’re reading it then). After having been ridiculously sick over Christmas vacation and not getting to hit any of the hills with my snowboard, I’ve been itching to get back up there. Toronto really doesn’t have any decent hills in the area (don’t even get me started on Blue Mountain… it’s not a mountain, it’s a sad, sad slope) so I really do need to get up to Ottawa and into Quebec to see some proper runs.
ANYWAY. All that to say I’m heading to Ottawa for about 5 days and thought I’d show you what makeup I’m bringing with me this time.
Urban Decay Naked & Tarte Off The Cuff palettes
First up are the palettes. Usually I pack my Naked palette and pop in a few loose blushes, but this time I decided to take advantage of the fact that the Tarte palette actually comes with four blushes and a bronzer. The Naked is a must have, but the Tarte palette is kind of a no-brainer.
Urban Decay Naked & Tarte Off The Cuff palettes
Also, sad to say, but I’ve barely used the Tarte palette since I bought it in late last year, so I really want to get some proper use out of it. Not to mention the amount of space it saves.
Physicians Formula Shimmer Strip, Yaby foundation, Collection Concealer
For face products, I’m bringing the Physicians Formula Shimmer Strip in Sunset Strip (also because it’s underused), the Yaby foundation in Buff because it’s a great match for my skin and it comes in an incredibly small tube. Last up is the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Shade 2 Light which I don’t really find to be a necessity on a daily basis, but I may want to use it so I threw it in there anyway.
Nivea Lip Butter, Laura Mercier Lip Glacé, MAC lipsticks
My Nivea lip butter in Vanilla & Macadamia tastes delicious (and reminds me of Ireland, since that’s where I bought it) and will be needed for hitting the slopes even though the packaging is kind of inconvenient. The mini Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Rose is in there in case I want to use a gloss (plus it also smells amazing). The two MAC lipsticks are Russian Red and Darkside, although I stupidly forgot to show you the actual colours. Whoops. I doubt I’ll even need this many lip products for a five day vacation, but the variety is nice for those “just in case” moments.
NARS Pro Prime, MAC Prep + Prime, MUFE Aqua Liner, MAC Lip Liner
And these are my necessities: NARS eyeshadow primer, MACPrep + Prime for lips, Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner in 13 Black and a MAC lip pencil in Brick for if I decide to wear Russian Red.
Illamasqua shadow, Too Faced mascara
Last up are Illamasqua‘s Imagineeyeshadow because I’ve never used it and I figured I needed to bring some kind of coloured shadow since the Naked palette is so very neutral. Too Faced‘s Better Than Sex mascara is also coming along for the ride since it’s in a tiny tube and easy to transport. Since I won’t be wearing any makeup while actually on the slopes, I don’t need a waterproof formula at all.
And all of it fits!
All of that fits into this relatively small makeup bag. For once I had a lot of small deluxe sample sized products which made it a lot easier to get everything crammed in there.
Travel Makeup Bag
The makeup bag itself was part of the Liberty of LondonMAC collection from 2010. I’ve used this bag religiously to travel with over the years and love how it’s held up. I also love the colours and the pattern itself. If you’re wondering where my brushes are, I’ll probably end up chucking them in a Ziploc bag and stuff them between soft things somewhere between my clothing.
That’s it for this travel makeup bag. I’m extremely excited to get back out there snowboarding since it’s been far too many years!
